WASHINGTON: A resolution moved in the US Senate urges the Biden administration to engage with India and demand a swift end to the persecution of, and violence against, religious minorities and human rights defenders.

The resolution, moved this week by Senator Tammy Baldwin, also demands the reversal of policies that discriminate against Muslims and Christians and an end to violence against peaceful civilian protesters in India.

“I am calling on the United States to continue pushing the government of India to reverse course on the systematic religious and political persecution that is endangering and disenfranchising innocent civilians.”

A statement released by Mr Baldwin’s office notes that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure “has been marked by a troubling increase in violence, hate crimes, incendiary rhetoric by politicians, and an overall decline in religious freedom typically seen in healthy democracies”.

It includes another statement by the Indian American Muslim Council, pointing out that was a key US partner it is “doubly important” for India to “observe, practice and implement civil and political liberties as enshrined in the Indian Constitution”.

“We applaud Senator Baldwin for introducing this significant resolution and we encourage the US Senate to pass it to send a clear and unequivocal message to both the Biden Administration and the Indian government,” said Rasheed Ahmed, the council’s executive director.

The resolution outlines various key concerns, primarily focusing on discriminatory practices against religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians.

It references incidents of violence, including public lynching, disruptions, and destruction of places of worship, demolitions of homes and businesses, and arrests based on false allegations such as “Love Jihad”.

The document expresses dismay over the lack of adequate prosecution for the perpetrators, as noted in reports on international religious freedom and human rights practices.

The resolution scrutinises legislative actions such as the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and raises concerns about the CAA’s religious bias in granting expedited citizenship to non-Muslims from neighbouring countries while excluding Muslims.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2023